Assessing and Treating the Depressed Patient - Case Study #1 - Getting It Right: Application of the HEDIS Depression Guidelines to Improve Outcomes
Organizations like the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC are benchmarking how to measure quality through improved patient outcomes. NCQA's Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures are used to guide clinicians in best practices for treatment and management of patients with specific diseases, based upon relevance to practice, scientific evidence, and feasibility. This series of Sequential Learning activities is intended to assist clinicians in identifying, understanding and applying the HEDIS measures to improve outcomes for persons with depression.
This activity is supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

The Health Professional's Role in Formulary Management of Medicare Part D Benefits
Starting January 1, 2006, pharmacists began to experience a multitude of new challenges associated with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. One of the most time-consuming challenges in the program will be formulary management. Preparation will be key for pharmacists to minimize the economic and humanitarian impact of confused beneficiaries and to limit any delays in care due to this new program.
This program is supported by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Emerging Trends in HIV Combination Therapy: The Pharmacology and the Pharmacist
Upon successful completion of this new CE activity, the pharmacist should be better able to:
- Discuss current combination HIV therapies.
- Describe the synergistic mechanism of protease inhibitors and potent cytochrome P450 inhibitors.
- Identify key opportunities for pharmacist intervention with HIV treatment regimens.
The program is supported by an educational grant from Roche Laboratories.

DAWN: Real World Applications and Strategies
The goal of this activity is to increase the health care professional's awareness of the implications/learning from the DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs) study and how to apply findings in their own practice setting.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc.

The Skinny on Fatty Acids: The Efficacy of Omega-3s
The purpose of this activity is to provide information regarding available types and sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These include over the counter plant-and fish oil-based supplements and a newly approved prescription product. It is important that pharmacists are aware of the appropriate treatment options when advising patients with hypertriglyceridemia or those otherwise at risk for coronary heart disease.
This program is supported by an educational grant from Reliant Pharmaceuticals.